Rajiv convicts case: ‘Purohit waiting for multi-disciplinary panel report’

Kangeyam MLA U Thaniyarasu questioned the status of the release of seven Rajiv convicts, in the Assembly. Replying to the query, Shanmugam said that in the Supreme Court case filed by one of the seven Rajiv convicts Perarivalan, the Court asked the state government to check the status of the state government’s recommendation sent to Governor on the release of seven Rajiv convicts in September 2018.

Based on the directions of the Supreme Court, the state government sent a letter to Governor’s office seeking explanation on the steps taken by him on the issue and Governor’s office replied that as the Multi-Disciplinary Monitoring Agency is probing the conspiracy in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case any action on the issue would be taken only after the agency submits its report to Union Home Ministry.

The state government sent a proposal to Governor to release all seven Rajiv convicts by using the powers of the Governor under Article 161 of the Indian Constitution, but the proposal was lying idle. Meanwhile, Perarivalan approached the Supreme Court with the plea of early release and in the case the apex court directed the state government to obtain the steps taken on the proposal from Governor’s office. The reply of the Law Minister shook the MLAs of Opposition parties as they urged the state government to take steps for the early release of the Rajiv convicts.

Meanwhile, Perarivalan’s mother Arputhammal urged the state to send her son on parole as there was high risk of him contracting the coronavirus. “As many as 29 years in prison has given intense mental pressure, BP, arthritis and kidney infection to him. Under the prevailing circumstances, Perarivalan has greater chances of acquiring coronavirus infection, so the state government should sanction holidays for Perarivalan and other prisoners suffering from various diseases,” tweeted Arputhammal.